The First Nations Longhouse, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

A Merit Award winning building, with cedar post and beam and glazed curtain wall, combining the traditional with the contemporary.  

Huge rounded timbers combine with modern interior space, extensive glazing and a curving roof line.  The 2, 200 sq.m. 100m long structure is framed with 65cm diameter western red cedar olumns and beams, each finished in a 16-side fluted appearance.

Columns are reinforced laterally by mid-height girt beams and by continuous main beams along the top.  Each column is attachedat its base to the concrete slab by a concealed, pretensioned steel rod.  The main roof framing timbers are overlain with tapered and facetted cedar rafters sheathed with spruce decking.

School of Social Work, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC